NFL notes: Cowboys reportedly intend to extend Garrett

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett smiles as he talks to the media about how well wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) fits in with the team before the morning practice, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. Max Faulkner / AP

Regardless of outcome of Rams game

FOXBORO, Mass. – Regardless of Saturday night’s outcome in the first of two NFC divisional playoff games, the Dallas Cowboys reportedly intend to offer head coach Jason Garrett a contract extension.

He has one season remaining on a five-year, $30-million deal he signed in 2015. But NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Cowboys “are positive that Garrett is going to be their coach going forward” and “intend to begin negotiating a long-term extension.”

The Cowboys (11-6) played the Rams (13-3) Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

PAGANO TO CHICAGO: Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano (2012-17) is back in the NFL after a year away. He’ll serve as defensive coordinator for Matt Nagy on the Chicago Bears, replacing Vic Fangio who’s now head coach of the Denver Broncos.

FITZ STILL DECIDING: WR Larry Fitzgerald remains undecided about whether to return to the Arizona Cardinals for a 16th season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Fitzgerald texted him this past week that he is taking his time for the fog of the season to clear. Arizona had the NFL’s worst record, at 3-13, and fired first-year head coach Steve Wilks and replaced him with fired Texas Tech University head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who has no NFL experience.

COACHES-IN-WAITING: If you missed the reports Friday, the last two head coach vacancies have been unofficially but essentially filled.

The Miami Dolphins apparently have concluded head coach interviews and intend to hire Brian Flores, linebackers coach of the New England Patriots, and the Cincinnati Bengals have settled on Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor. Both men were still coaching for their current teams in the playoffs this weekend.

Meantime, the Cleveland Browns finally made it official Saturday and announced that Freddie Kitchens is the team’s latest head coach. He began the season as quarterbacks coach before being promoted at mid-season to offensive coordinator with the firings of head coach Hue Jackson and then-offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

EXTRA POINTS: New Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians reportedly wants serially dissatisfied WR DeSean Jackson to remain with the Buccaneers … College players with one year of eligibility remaining have until Monday to decide whether to turn pro … Newly named New York Jets head coach Adam Gase is expected to bring at least two of his Miami Dolphins assistants with him, Kris Kocurek (defensive line) and Frank Bush (linebackers), according to SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Alex Marvez … New Orleans reportedly placed WR Simmie Cobbs Jr. on IR on Saturday and promoted TE Garrett Griffin from the practice squad.